Greece reported 77 new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour reporting period, of which 10 are from incoming travellers.
Geographical distribution of new cases:
This raises the total number of cases to 4,737.
1,303 are considered to be related to travel from abroad and 2,345 are related to an already known case.
Thirteen individuals are in ICU. Their median age is 69 years, while a 69.2% has an underlying health condition or are aged 70 or over.
The country’s pandemic death toll remains at 210.
Meanwhile, the use of face masks has been extended to all parts of passenger ferries, including open-air areas. It is recalled, the maximum passenger capacity allowed on ferries has increased to 80% (from the current 60%) for ships that don’t have cabins and to 85% (from the current 65%) for those that do.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced that the measure will apply as of August 3-August 18.
At the same time, up until August 15, agricultural labourers that leave the country will be not have the right to re-enter until further notice.
He noted that "Greece has a better epidemiological picture than most European countries and managed to control the imported incidents from tourists with a series of measures at the country's entrances. Complacency remains the enemy, as well as phenomena of relaxation [of self- protection measures] that feed the virus. Complacency has led to the increase of cases in many Greek regions but mostly in the cities but this increase has not put significant pressure on the health system so far."
Petsas also announced that inspections and checks will continue, while noting that an increase of fines over the weekend was indicative of the increasing laxity in observing safety measures.
The government, in cooperation with the experts, will do everything possible to protect public health and human lives, he reiterated.
The measures were decided during a video conference between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, head of the government advisory committee Sotiris Tsiodras, Health Minister Vassils Kikilias, and Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias.